Business trip to Kobe, Japan
Kobe has been an important port and a major manufacturing center since early days. In the 70s Kobe had the busiest container port in the world, nowadays they are in fourth position. Only a small number of people in Kobe are employed in the primary sector (agriculture, fishing and mining). The Service industry is highly developed in the region and it employs most of the residents of Kobe.
The other major sectors of the Kobe region are the Manufacturing and Industry sector. The city of Kobe manufactures and exports a large number of goods. The major export goods include food products, transportation equipment, and communication equipment which are also produced in Kobe.
Read more...The city of Kobe is becoming a major eye catcher for investors from all over the world. Kobe has undertaken a number of projects for industry development and trade promotion. Moreover the city has plenteous spaces for offices and industries. Several organizations providing investment support have been set up in the region. The city has a very investor friendly environment.
Along with Kobe’s traditional local industries the new industries like IT, science and technology are also growing in the city. A range of companies including heavy industry such as shipbuilding, industrial machines, iron, and steel, with local industries including clothes, chemical shoes, pearls, Western furniture, coffee, Western cake and refined sake are flourishing in the region. Other industries related to public health, welfare and medical care have grown rapidly in recent years. The Kobe medical industry development project was a major landmark in this regard.
For more in-depth information I suggest you buy and read the "Global Business Etiquettes" book.
- Communication:
Use formal names, professional and academic titles. Rank is very important and should be respected at all time.
The Japanese are not direct and this to the extreme, they prefer subtlety to directness. If there is a request that can’t be agreed upon, the Japanese will reply with a sentence like "it’s under consideration".
Never interrupt somebody.
Dress formal and conservative. - Meetings and negotiations:
When making appointments use the 24-hour clock time format to avoid misunderstandings.
Be very punctual, if you suspect you will late, call and explain the situation.
Never cancel a meeting at the last minute.
Shaking hands is accepted as you are a foreigner but the custom is to bow, the deeper the bow, the more respect you show for the other.
Always give a small gift to the most senior person at the end of the meeting, as a token of your esteem.Remain standing until invited to sit down or others do so.
First appointments are more socially oriented, Japanese would like to know you a bit better at first.
Keep your presentation as short as possible, to the point, accurate and precise, do not exaggerate.
Follow up a meeting with a letter or an e-mail with all agreements outlined.
The Japanese do not see contracts as a final agreement so it is possible the contract will be renegotiated. - Table manners:
If unsure on how to behave, mimic the behavior of someone equal in rank.
Wait until you are appointed a seat.
Avoid alcohol if possible, otherwise drink little. Your glass will be refilled when you empty it.
If making a toast, stand up.
Eat not too much but finish your bowl untill the last grain, ohterwise the others think you want more.
Keep your hands above the table when eating.
After finishing eating, place your chopsticks on the chopstick rest or on the table.
Thank your host at the end of the meal.
Japan has been experiencing deflation, an annual drop in prices since 1999. In 2008, however, the whole world has been turmoiled by the rising oil, food and commodity prices. Japan’s inflation rate, except for fresh fruit, fish and vegetable prices, rose 1,5% in May 2008. This was the highest rate since 1998.
For a decade now, Japanese consumers have grown accustomed to dropping prices. With prices suddenly going up, consumer spending is expected to drop, spelling further trouble for the economy. Indeed, in the second quarterly report of 2008 issued by the Bank of Japan, 58.7% of those surveyed said they expect to cut their spending this year. This is the highest figure on record since the survey started in 1997. The Bank of Japan will be hard-pressed to rein in inflation which has become a global phenomenon.
The Japanese Economy experienced an amazing growth phase after World War 2 and up until the 1980s. Japan became the second largest economy in the world after the United States. Nonetheless, in the 1990s the country experienced a decline in the growth, and some of its structural problems still hold it back.
Thanks to low tax rates, an abundance of economic freedom, and a system ruled by the private sector, Japan’s economy is the second largest economy in the world and the largest in Asia, based on real GDP, market exchange rates, and nominal GDP. Japan uses planned development of science and technology, and has a very strong work culture, which contributes to the country as a whole. It also emphasizes on a good relationship between the industrial sector and national government.
Japan has some characteristics that have marked its swiftly rise from the heritage of the Second World War, to superiority in the 1980s. In particular, manufacturers, their suppliers and distributors work closely together in informal but tight structures named keiretsu, with close support from several financial institutions and the government. For most of the last fifty years, large Japanese corporations have also provided guaranteed employment for life to ’salarymen’, typically male employees who work the highest number of hours on the planet in return for that commitment.
For continued growth rates and stability in the Japanese economy, the government has recently been considering a number of incentive ideas to manage inflation, increase service sector productivity, focus on fiscal consolidation, and modify the tax system and labor market. With a gross debt of 180% of GDP, additional measures to reduce the enormous budget deficit are becoming increasingly urgent. An improvement in the budget balance of between 4% and 5% of GDP (on a primary budget basis) is needed just to stabilize the government debt-to-GDP ratio, a first step towards the government’s goal of lowering the ratio in the 2010s.
The first priority is to further cut government spending, which has fallen by 2 percentage points as a share of GDP during the past five years, mainly through trimming public investment and the government wage bill. Disbursement reductions should be accompanied by reforms to improve efficiency in the public sector.
Kansai International Airport is located on an artificial island in Osaka bay. Its construction caused major problems, due to the softness of the ground, the island has sunk a number of meters, this is a process that continues, although by now it has been reduced to a few centimeters a year.
Address
Osaka Kansai International Airport
1-banchi
Senshu-kuko Kita
Izumisano-shi
Osaka 549 8501
Japan
Telephone: +81(0)72 455 2500
www.kansai-airport.or.jp
Airport codes
IATA airport code: KIX
ICAO airport code: RJBB
Lost property
For information about lost and found objects you can contact the Kansai International Airport Information Center on phone number +81(0)724 552 500).
Terminal info
The KIX passenger terminal is a four level building by the design of Renzo Piano Building Workshop (Renzo Piano and Noriaki Okabe). It has a gross floor space of almost 300.000 m2. It is the longest airport terminal in the world, with a total length of 1700 meters from one end to the other. It has a state of the art people transport system called the Wing Shuttle, which moves passengers from one end of the pier to the other.
The terminal’s roof has the shape of an airfoil. This shape is used to improve the air circulation through the building: enormous air conditioning ducts blow air upwards at one side of the terminal, circulate the air across the curvature of the ceiling, and collect the air through intakes at the other side. Mobiles are suspended in the ticketing hall to take advantage of the flowing air.
Connectivity from the airport
Train
With the Kansai Airport Rapid Service you can travel from Osaka Kansai International Airport to Osaka in approximately 65 minutes and the trip will cost about 1300 yen.
Taxi
From the airport you can take a taxi to get to Osaka. The trip will take about 60 minutes and will cost about 18.000 yen.
Keep the following tips in mind if you need to order a taxi during your business trip to Kobe.
For non-Japanese speakers taking a taxi is not an easy option. To travel in confidence you need to have your destination written down in Japanese. Taxi’s can be expensive. At night time be prepared for even steeper charges. Between 11pm and 5 am the rate goes up by 20%. Most trainstations have a taxi rank or a taxi can be hailed from the roadside.
| Company name | Phone number |
| Private Taxi | 5778181 |
| Crescent Taxi Co. | 8010581 |
French Restaurant ALAIN CHAPEL
Experience the pinnacle of modern French cuisine from Miyonnay while gazing out on the Kobe cityscape and beautiful Osaka Bay.
10-1,6 Chome
Minatojima Nakamachi
Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-0046
Japan
078/302-1111
www.portopia.co.jp
Kitano
Chic of England, Gaiety of France, and Frankness of the U.S. And conscientiousness of Japan......Such variety of goodness of various countries makes a cocktail. The most important thing is that the customers enjoy tasty meal. So that, no ceremonial manner nor tensed atmosphere is required in this shop.
1F Hillside Terrace1-22-13
Nakayamate-dori, Chuo-Ku
Kobe
Phone: 078-222-0678
www.wakkoqu.com
Warung Bali
This is a great restaurant to invite your business partners during your business trip to Kobe. The tempeh goring and tofu with peanut sauce are simply amazing. Owner and chef Made Widjaja is intended to do more than just inspire Japanese to eat nasi campur. The chef speaks fluent English and can custom-make dishes, making it a great place for vegetarians dining in Japan.
Onaga Bldg., 1st fl
2-4-5 Kitanagata Dori
Chuo-ku, Kobe
Phone: 078/321-6080
www.warungbali.com
Tips to save money on hotel costs during your business trip to Kobe.
To get the best price for a good hotel room during your business trip to Kobe it's not only important to compare the prices the hotel charges for a room, but also compare the prices of the different booking agencies.
This can save you, or your company, a lot of money!
- Go to this hotel listing for Kobe.
- Select the "Check-in" and "Check-out" date.
- Select filters like: "Hotel brand", "Ratings", "Location" and "Price ranges".
- Select the hotel you like.
- You will get an overview of the prices from up to 24 booking sites
- Select the best offer in the list and book the room!
We have selected the following established business hotels for your convenience:
Hotel Monterey Kobe
Hotel located within 5 minutes walking distance from JR, Hanshin, Hankyu, and subway Sannomiya terminal station, where lots of restaurants and shops are around, accessible from Kansai International Airport (KIX) by airport limousine bus in 70 minutes. Kobe Convention Center in Port Island is only 20 minutes from the hotel.
2-11-13 Shimoyamate-Dori Chuo-Ku
Kobe, Japan
More info about Hotel Monterey Kobe
The B Kobe Hotel
Newly opened in July 2006.The 5th addition to the b brand family in Japan. The b Kobe is easily accessible by transport. Located just 1 minute away from Sannomiya Subway Station. It takes about 10minutes from Shinkansen Shin-Kobe station. This city center of Kobe. It is perfect for your business trip or leisure.
2-11-5 Shimoyamate St
Chuo-Ku, Kobe, Japan
More info about Hotel Monterey Kobe
Daiwa Roynet Hotel Sannomiya Kobe
The hotel provides 24-hour front desk Business services and computer rental. Complimentary high-speed Internet access in public areas Guestrooms. Cable/satellite television with pay movies. Refrigerator and coffee/tea maker Bathroom with shower/tub combination, complimentary toiletries, slippers and hair dryer.
5-1-6, Gokodori
Cyuo-Ku, Kobe, Japan
More info about Daiwa Roynet Hotel Sannomiya Kobe
The Kobe shopping experience is filled with a range of goodies from futuristic electrical ware to traditional Japanese handicrafts, from trendy high-fashion wearable to exquisitely crafted pearl jewelry. It is almost impossible not to stumble upon all these at the Moto-machi shopping quarters of Kobe, one of the most ancient of the districts for shopping in Kobe.
At the Moto-machi area, there are antique shops and numerous outlets that sell traditional Japanese dolls, resplendent in their vibrant colors, lacquer stuff and the latest in electrical and electronics good. This shopping region is actually a one-stop place for shopping in Kobe.
Shopping in Kobe needs the Sannomiya Shopping Centre Kobe included, the largest of all the Kobe shopping regions. The Sannomiya Centre sells everything that money can buy and also has restaurants and cafes for you to recharge yourself in between your shopping expeditions.
When you are passing by the Naka-machi district, make sure that you drop by the Tasaki Shinju for some fine specimens of Japanese pearls and pearl jewelry. You won’t repent that you gave way to the temptations.
And the place to shop in Kobe for chic designer garments? This has to be Tor Road. Tor Road is one of the most modish of the destinations for shopping in Kobe and houses everything from international to authentic Japanese designer wear. Shop in Kobe and shop in style.
Hyogo Daibutu
"Hyogo Daibutu" is one of three famous huge statues of Buddha in Japan. It’s formally classified a Birushanabudd: its wisdom and virtue enlightens whole universe, a sitting figure of Buddha which is 11 meters high. Saicho (Dengyo Daishi, the founder of Tendai Sect) placed Yakushi Nyorai in charge of making the temple hall and named the temple Nofuku Gokoku Mitsu-ji Temple, establishing the first disciplinary holy ground in Japan. Taira-no-Kiyomori became a Buddhist priest in this temple in Jisho 4 (1180), when the capital was relocated to Fukuhara-kyo. It served as Inge-shoku (branch temple) of Kyoto Shoren-in Monzeki Temple from early Edo era to the Meiji Restoration in 1868, having the most prestigious status of all temples in Kyoto and areas westward.
Nadeshiko no Yu, hot springs
When you have some time to spend during your business trip to Kobe and you are in for some relaxation, a great place to visit is the Nadeshiko no Yu hot springs. This source of hot water of good quality is part of the old and famous temple. About 30 minutes from Kobe. The best refreshing space for a day trip.
Kawasaki Good Times World
On May 17, 2006, Kawasaki Good Times World opened within the Kobe Maritime Museum at Kobe Meriken Park. A museum showcasing Kawasaki’s origins, our more than century-long history and our products, it also illuminates our pioneering technologies―which encompass mastery of the land, sea and air―and demonstrates how they have made significant contributions to society. We hope that by interacting with our products in fun and informative ways, you will experience the wonders of technology and come to appreciate the importance of craftsmanship. This museum is certainly fun when you are into technique.
Before you go on your business trip to Tokyo, Japan you should always get a travel insurance with a complete coverage. Make sure your health care insurance is sufficiently covered. Maybe this is already covered in your regular health care insurance but often you will need to cover this with the travel insurance. Also a good travel insurance should cover the costs of travel for a relative in case of seriously illness or an accident. The business trip travel insurance should also cover the costs of search, rescue and repatriation.
When you go on business trips on a regular basis, the easiest way to get insured is with an annual multi-trip insurance.Keep in mind that you can also use this insurance for your pleasure trips so don’t forget to include to insure your leisure activities.
| Emergency service | Phone number |
| Police | 110 |
| Medical/ Fire | 119 |
For medical help you can contact AMDA International Medical Information Center of Japan. They provide telephone help in English Monday through Friday between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Call 03-5285-8088 in Tokyo, or 06-4395-0555 in Osaka.
For emergencies you can turn to the Kobe University Hospital (Kobe Daigaku Igakubu Fozuku Byoin)
Tel: (078) 341-7451 (Emergency number from 5:00 PM to 8:30 AM: 078-382-6510)
5-2 Kusunoki-cho 7-chome
Chuo-ku, Kobe
www.hosp.kobe-u.ac.jp
Japanese is the official language of Japan. There is a form of the language considered standard: hyōjungo, meaning "standard Japanese", or kyōtsūgo, "common language".
The Japanese language is written with a combination of three scripts: Chinese characters called kanji and two syllabic scripts made up of modified Chinese characters, hiragana and katakana. The Latin alphabet, rōmaji, is also often used in modern Japanese, especially for company names and logos, advertising, and when entering Japanese text into a computer. Arabic numerals are normally used for numbers, but traditional Sino-Japanese numerals are also common.
| English | Japanese characters | Phonetic pronunciation |
| How are you? | お元気ですか？ | o genki desu ka |
| I’m fine, thanks. And you? | はい、元気です。あなたは？ | hai, genki desu. anata wa? |
| What’s your name? | お名前はなんですか? | o-namae wa nan desu ka |
| My name is ... | ...です | ... desu |
| Pleased to meet you | 初めまして | hajimemashite |
| Good morning | お早うございます | ohayō gozaimasu |
| Good afternoon | 今日は | konnichiwa |
| Good evening | 今晩は | konbanwa |
| Good night | おやすみなさい | oyasumi nasai |
| Goodbye | さようなら | sayōnara |
| Bon appetit | いただきます | itadakimasu |
| Cheers/Good health! | 乾杯 | kanpai |
| I don’t understand | わかりません | wakarimasen |
| Please write it down | 書いてください | kaite kudasai |
| Excuse me | すみません! | sumimasen |
| How much is this? | いくらですか | ikura desu ka? |
| Thank you | どうも | dōmo |
| You’re welcome | ありがとうございます | arigatō gozaimasu |
| Where’s the toilet? | 便所はどこですか。 | benjo wa doko desu ka |
| Yes / No | はい / いいえ | hai / īe |
| How do you say ... in Japanese? | ．．．を日本語で何と言いますか。 | ...o nihongo de nanto īmasu ka? |
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For visitor from 63 countries it is no neccessary to apply for a visa when your stay contains only a limited number of days.
A list of these countries you can find on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan:
www.mofa.go.jp
On this website you can also read how you can apply for a visa when your stay is longer than the indicated number of days or you are from a country that is not included on this list.
